Obesity, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and the dopaminergic reward system

The obesity epidemic has focused attention on obesity's health consequences beyond cardio-vascular disease and diabetes. To evaluate the potential consequences of obesity for Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), we surveyed the literature. Current findings link both obesity and ADHD to the dopamine system and implicate dopamine genes in body weight, eating, and ADHD. Detailed consideration suggests that dopaminergic changes in the prefrontal cortex among individuals with the ADHD subtype Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) may increase their risk for obesity. Thus, individuals and populations with a high prevalence of hyperdopaminergic genes may experience higher rates of obesity in the presence of abundant food. From an evolutionary perspective, alterations in the dopamine system appear to effect a wide range of behavioral phenotypes. We suggest that recent evolutionary changes in the dopamine receptor genes selected to increase cognitive and behavioral flexibility may now be associated with attention problems and increased food consumption in an obesogenic environment.     

Toward rational protein crystallization: A Web server for the design of crystallizable protein variants

Growing well-diffracting crystals constitutes a serious bottleneck in structural biology. A recently proposed crystallization methodology for "stubborn crystallizers" is to engineer surface sequence variants designed to form intermolecular contacts that could support a crystal lattice. This approach relies on the concept of surface entropy reduction (SER), i.e., the replacement of clusters of flexible, solvent-exposed residues with residues with lower conformational entropy. This strategy minimizes the loss of conformational entropy upon crystallization and renders crystallization thermodynamically favorable. The method has been successfully used to crystallize more than 15 novel proteins, all stubborn crystallizers. But the choice of suitable sites for mutagenesis is not trivial. Herein, we announce a Web server, the surface entropy reduction prediction server (SERp server), designed to identify mutations that may facilitate crystallization. Suggested mutations are predicted based on an algorithm incorporating a conformational entropy profile, a secondary structure prediction, and sequence conservation. Minor considerations include the nature of flanking residues and gaps between mutation candidates. While designed to be used with default values, the server has many user-controlled parameters allowing for considerable flexibility. Within, we discuss (1) the methodology of the server, (2) how to interpret the results, and (3) factors that must be considered when selecting mutations. We also attempt to benchmark the server by comparing the server's predictions with successful SER structures. In most cases, the structure yielding mutations were easily identified by the SERp server. The server can be accessed at http://www.doe-mbi.ucla.edu/Services/SER.     

The minimum information required for reporting a molecular interaction experiment (MIMIx)

A wealth of molecular interaction data is available in the literature, ranging from large-scale datasets to a single interaction confirmed by several different techniques. These data are all too often reported either as free text or in tables of variable format, and are often missing key pieces of information essential for a full understanding of the experiment. Here we propose MIMIx, the minimum information required for reporting a molecular interaction experiment. Adherence to these reporting guidelines will result in publications of increased clarity and usefulness to the scientific community and will support the rapid, systematic capture of molecular interaction data in public databases, thereby improving access to valuable interaction data.     

Canonical interaction of cyclin G associated kinase with adaptor protein 1 regulates lysosomal enzyme sorting

The adaptor protein 1 (AP1) complex is a heterotetramer that participates in cargo sorting into clathrin-coated vesicles at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and endosomes. The gamma subunit of AP1 possesses a C-terminal "ear" domain that recruits a cohort of accessory proteins through recognition of a shared canonical motif, PsiG[PDE][PsiLM] (where Psi is an aromatic residue). The physiological relevance of these ear-motif interactions, however, remains to be demonstrated. Here we report that the cyclin G-associated kinase (GAK) has two sequences fitting this motif, FGPL and FGEF, which mediate binding to the AP1-gamma-ear domain in vitro. Mutation of both gamma-ear-binding sequences or depletion of AP1-gamma by RNA interference (RNAi) decreases the association of GAK with the TGN in vivo. Depletion of GAK by RNAi impairs the sorting of the acid hydrolase, cathepsin D, to lysosomes. Importantly, expression of RNAi-resistant GAK restores the lysosomal sorting of cathepsin D in cells depleted of endogenous GAK, whereas expression of a similar construct bearing mutations in both gamma-ear-binding sequences fails to correct the sorting defect. Thus, interactions between the PsiG[PDE][PsiLM]-motif sequences in GAK and the AP1-gamma-ear domain are critical for the recruitment of GAK to the TGN and the function of GAK in lysosomal enzyme sorting.     

The MiSink Plugin: Cytoscape as a graphical interface to the Database of Interacting Proteins

The MiSink Plugin converts Cytoscape, an open-source bioinformatics platform for network visualization, to a graphical interface for the database of interacting proteins (DIP: http://dip.doe-mbi.ucla.edu). Seamless integration is possible by providing bi-directional communication between Cytoscape and any Web site supplying data in XML or tab-delimited format. Availability: MiSink is freely available for download at http://dip.doe-mbi.ucla.edu/Software.cgi.     

Towards a pharmacophore for amyloid

Diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's and other diseases associated with amyloid fibers remains a great challenge despite intensive research. To aid in this effort, we present atomic structures of fiber-forming segments of proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease in complex with small molecule binders, determined by X-ray microcrystallography. The fiber-like complexes consist of pairs of β-sheets, with small molecules binding between the sheets, roughly parallel to the fiber axis. The structures suggest that apolar molecules drift along the fiber, consistent with the observation of nonspecific binding to a variety of amyloid proteins. In contrast, negatively charged orange-G binds specifically to lysine side chains of adjacent sheets. These structures provide molecular frameworks for the design of diagnostics and drugs for protein aggregation diseases.     

The relationship between anogenital distance, fatherhood, and fertility in adult men

Background

Anogenital distance (AGD), a sexually dimorphic measure of genital development, is a marker for endocrine disruption in animal studies and may be shorter in infant males with genital anomalies. Given the correlation between anogenital distance and genital development, we sought to determine if anogenital distance varied in fertile compared to infertile adult men.

Methods

A cross sectional study of consecutive men being evaluated for infertility and men with proven fertility was recruited from an andrology clinic. Anogenital distance (the distance from the posterior aspect of the scrotum to the anal verge) and penile length (PL) were measured using digital calipers. ANOVA and linear regression were used to determine correlations between AGD, fatherhood status, and semen analysis parameters (sperm density, motility, and total motile sperm count).

Findings

A total of 117 infertile men (mean age: 35.3±17.4) and 56 fertile men (mean age: 44.8±9.7) were recruited. The infertile men possessed significantly shorter mean AGD and PL compared to the fertile controls (AGD: 31.8 vs 44.6 mm, PL: 107.1 vs 119.5 mm, p<0.01). The difference in AGD persisted even after accounting for ethnic and anthropomorphic differences. In addition to fatherhood, on both unadjusted and adjusted linear regression, AGD was significantly correlated with sperm density and total motile sperm count. After adjusting for demographic and reproductive variables, for each 1 cm increase in a man''s AGD, the sperm density increases by 4.3 million sperm per mL (95% CI 0.53, 8.09, p = 0.03) and the total motile sperm count increases by 6.0 million sperm (95% CI 1.34, 10.58, p = 0.01). On adjusted analyses, no correlation was seen between penile length and semen parameters.

Conclusion

A longer anogenital distance is associated with fatherhood and may predict normal male reproductive potential. Thus, AGD may provide a novel metric to assess reproductive potential in men.